Senator Lorraine R. Inouye Member Feed

September 2015 newsletter

September 2015

July 29 Pahoa Community Meeting

As Chair of the Senate Transportation and Energy Committee, Senator Inouye hosted an informational meeting on July 29, 2015, to update residents on the Pahoa Roundabout project scheduled to begin construction in early August. Located at the intersection of Highway 130 and Pahoa Village Road, the $5 million project was postponed last year while the June 27 lava flow threatened lower Puna.

Concerned that community members may have lost track of the project, and with the start date in a few weeks, Senator Inouye was joined by Senator Russell Ruderman, Rep. Joy San Buenaventura, and County Council members Daniel Paleka and Greggor Ilagan. DOT officials presented details regarding starting dates, the duration of the project, and traffic detours that will be in effect during construction. Ed Sniffen, Deputy Director, Highways Division, flew in from Oahu to make this presentation and Leslie Isemoto, President of Isemoto Contracting was also in attendance.

Kauai Transportation and Energy

Senator Inouye recently visited the island of Kauai to observe DOT facilities in preparation for her role as Chair of the Senate Transportation committee. Traveling with DOT officials she was able to observe the Lihue airport and Nawiliwili harbor and to spend time talking about highway priorities. She ended her visit in Koloa touring a solar farm and green energy biomass plant.

March 2015 Newsletter

March 2015

Kohala Ditch

Senator Inouye visited the Kohala Ditch with a group of constituents. The date for this visit ended up being six days after a torrential rain, and the Senator was able to view the damage caused by the storm. This photo puts some perspective to the damage and ultimately, the inconvenience the North Kohala community was dealing with.

VASH Honors Mitch Roth

VASH (Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii) honored Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth at a luncheon ceremony onboard The Pride of America. Senator Inouye joined many others, including fellow Hilo Rotary members, at this event. Congratulations Mitch!

Kohala Coast Sound Test

Senator Inouye participated in a sound assessment for a proposed shooting range at Pu‘uanahulu, above the Kohala Coast resorts. She joined hoteliers and resort developers during the assessment. Following the test, she also visited the site, less than a mile away, for a demonstration of the firearms used during the assessment and an explanation of possible options for mitigation. (Photo courtesy: Rep. Cindy Evans)

Senator Inouye's biography

Senator Lorraine R. Inouye represents Hawaii's 4th District on Hawaii Island. An experienced legislator, she formerly served in the Hawaii State Senate for ten years from 1998-2008. Additionally, Senator Inouye was Hawaii County Mayor from 1990-1992 and was elected to the Hawaii County Council from 1984-1990.

In the 2015 legislature, Senator Inouye is Vice Chair of Higher Education, and a member of the Senate's Ways and Means, Hawaiian Affairs, and Transportation committees.

Senator Inouye is President of Aloha Blooms, Inc. - a ten-acre anthurium farm. Her husband, Vernon, is President of Floral Resources, Hawaii - a tropical flower exporter and anthurium grower.

She and Vernon live in Hilo, and she is the mother of three children.